Foodie News: New coffee shop opens in Durham

RALEIGH, N.C. — There is a new place to get your morning brew in South Durham with the opening of People’s Coffee this past week. It is located at the intersection of 751 and Renaissance Parkway, behind Bonefish Grill and beside Town Hall Burger and Beer. Brought to us by Jordan Wells, who spent the past six years in the specialty coffee industry, and David Sadeghi, owner of Town Hall Burger and Beer (among other successful establishments). The concept features coffee from Black & White Coffee Roasters, pastries and such from Strong Arm Baking Co., and a grab-and-go menu and cold-pressed juice offerings from Cold Off The Press. Thanks to Amber Watson at Bites of Bull City for additional details.

The Triangle Business Journal reported this week that McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks in Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall will not renew their lease when it ends in June - but instead will be replaced by Uncle Julio’s Mexican which serves a variety of Tex-Mex dishes, from enchiladas to mesquite grilled, bacon-wrapped shrimp. Uncle Julio’s opens a location at Durham’s Streets at Southpoint next Tuesday.

The folks over at EatRaleigh brought it to our attention that Papa Shogun, which moved into the former Kimbap spot in Seaboard Station, is now open (soft opening). Papa Shogun combines the techniques and flavors of Italian and Japanese cuisines for a new perspective on familiar foods in a refined yet fun environment. They may still be operating in a “reservations only” mode during the soft opening, so check first before going.

Got word from WRAL that The Lost Cajun is holding their grand opening in north Raleigh on Dec. 3 at 10901 Forest Pines Dr (old Wendy’s). You’ll be able to enjoy their delicious gumbo as well as their famous catfish and po boys.

Down in Fuquay-Varina, got word from David McCreary that Abbey Road Tavern & Grill opened this week at 711 N. Main Street. They also have locations in Cary and Apex. Over the years, Abbey Road Tavern and Grill earned the title of ‘Best Burger’ in the Triangle 14 times.

This season, the Hurricanes will host an All Star Chef Series during six home games, pairing a four-course meal tasting from a curated collection of North Carolina's premier chefs with tickets to a Carolina Hurricanes home game at PNC Arena. The first dinner kicks off Nov. 10. The dinners will be held in the Arena Club restaurant two hours before the game. Tickets to the dinner and hockey game are $135, with seats in the lower level of PNC Arena. Hurricanes season ticket holders can get dinner tickets for $75.

The first North Carolina location of Pokeworks, which is now open in downtown Durham, celebrates its grand opening this Saturday, November 10th from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m with a special “buy-one-get-one-free" offer all day.

And more of a programming note, over at Beyu Cafe in downtown Durham owner Dorian Bolden announced this week that they will discontinue their live music at then end of 2018 so that the can solely focus on coffee and daytime food offerings, as well as private events and occasional community-focused events, such as talks and readings.

Also in Durham, reader Marianne Boger shared with us that she saw signs for Sweet Charlie's hand rolled ice cream in the Hope Valley Commons shopping center in south Durham near the WhichWich, Makus Empanadas and Mattie B's. Apparently they have locations throughout the Southeast.

In Chapel Hill, WRAL shared that CAVA, which will be in the Village Plaza shopping center on Elliott Road just down from Whole Foods, will swing open their doors TODAY, Friday, Nov. 9. CAVA, a Greek/Mediterranean concept, allows you to customize your ideal grain bowl, salad, or pita.

On Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street, got word this week that Lula’s, which opened in the former Spanky’s location on the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets in June 2018, is beginning brunch service this Sunday, Nov. 11. They will be offering classic brunch staples like chicken and waffles, Lula's specialties such as sweet potato and squash strata, and hand-crafted brunch cocktails.

Also on Franklin Street, got word from Mike Depersia of National Restaurant Properties that they sold Asia Cafe on Franklin Street to the owners of Curry Point Express in RTP. The Chapel Hill property will reopen shortly as a fusion of the two restaurants.

On a recent drive through Chapel Hill, saw a sign up for Haw River Grill at 243 S. Elliott Road in the Elliott Square shopping center just down from Jersey Mike’s. Surprisingly, we were unable to locate an online presence. So we'll just have to wait a little longer until someone can share a little bit more information.

One final note from Chapel Hill, SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill will operate a Dewey’s Bakery holiday shop in Chapel Hill's University Place (located across from Chick-fil-A) Friday, Nov. 16 through Dec. 23. Thirty-five percent of proceeds from each sale will go directly to SECU Family House - a safe, nurturing and affordable home for patients and their loved ones who travel great distances to UNC Hospitals for lifesaving procedures due to serious illnesses. Dewey’s baked goods have been a treasured holiday tradition since the bakery opened in downtown Winston-Salem in 1930.

Since there are no closings to report this week, we thought we’d share who is open for Thanksgiving thanks to WRAL. Also, don’t forget that our good friends over at Donovan’s Dish are doing fully prepared (and delivered) Thanksgiving meals for your home.

Come celebrate with us at the 2018 Brewer's Ball - A Celebration of Triangle's Finest on Friday, November 16, at American Institute of Architects at 14 E Peace St in Raleigh from 7 to 10 p.m. (VIP Honoree and Sponsors Reception at 6:30 p.m.). The Brewer's Ball is an evening featuring the finest in brews, cocktails, food, music, and difference makers in the community. Guests are treated to a variety of hand-crafted brews and beverages from around town, creative and delicious food pairings from the city's top restaurants, live music, expansive live and silent auctions, and a chance to mix and mingle with the best and brightest in the Triangle, all while being a part of a great cause: helping move us closer to a cure for CF.

Have you ever met Angelo and Vinnie at Chapel Hill's infamous IPIII restaurant? How about Al and wife Melody of Al's Burger Shack fame? What if you could hang out with all of them for a night of fantastic food, fun and entertainment. Well, you can! The next edition of Caffe Marrone will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Mel's Commissary in Carrboro where $75 will get you 6 courses of Italian favorites, wine and entertainment. Did I mention Angelo and Vinnie will be there? Folks, go!

The folks over at The Rickhouse will host the first Durham Village Holiday Market featuring North Carolina made eats, drinks and gifts on Dec.16-18. Sample independent food, beverage, and craft producers while you complete your shopping list. Each night will have a bar and a different food truck for you to enjoy.

John T. Edge, executive director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, will lead a Celebration of Southern Food to benefit Farm to Fork from 6-9 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 6, at Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill. The dinner will be prepared by several of the Triangle’s best-known chefs: Sean Fowler of Mandolin in Raleigh; Cheetie Kumar of Garland in Raleigh; Brendan Cox of Oakleaf in Chapel Hill; Wyatt Dickson of Picnic in Durham; Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham; and Robert Kinneen of The Boot in Durham. Dessert will be prepared by Jonathan Fisher of Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Phoebe Lawless, formerly of Scratch Baking and the Lakewood. Counterclockwise String Band will perform. Tickets are $45 per person. Proceeds from the nonprofit’s events provide training and mentorship through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro and Breeze Farm Incubator in Orange County.

More than 60 percent of students in our 34-county service area qualify for free/reduced-price lunch. It's difficult for any student to excel academically when they come to school hungry. So we invite all students, staff, parents, and teachers to join our Students Against Hunger food and fund drive to help feed hungry children and their families in our community. Since 1996, students in our area have donated enough to provide nearly 6 million meals. Join the cause! Participants in the Students Against Hunger campaign collect food and funds from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30. Competing schools must deliver their donations to any of our branches by 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 30. Find out if your child's school is participating (and if not, get them to!)

Sean Lennard covers the Triangle food scene on his site Triangle Food Blog.